“In a nation of plenty, but with no hope for the people, in a nation where 50% of citizens are unemployed, a Nation of stolen billions, I join my voice to the call of the Change Movement Nigeria for the restoration of our stolen Dreams. I support the #stolendreams protest.” Change Movement Nigeria

TIME TO STAND UP
I am writing this to every Nigerian. First I ask that u read with logic and not sentiments of creed or clan!
As a 31 year old father, away from my child for the first time, I cannot imagine a stronger feeling of despair as if something were to happen to her and I am not there to protect her, to give my life if need be!
Empathy is the basis of our humanity and even if this country’s past and present governments have continued to prey on our humanity by inflaming our differences; Christian , Muslim, straight , gay, rich , poor , etc while pretending to foster unity( they even gave themselves awards for keeping us united for 100 years). To truly grow as Africans we need to feel our brothers pain as ours , we need to feel the fear of our sisters and hear the cries of our mothers too.
I have imagined the look of terror in the eyes of the young, defenseless children who were murdered in their sleep, callously, by the political thugs known as boko haram. I strongly believe that these politicians have crossed a sacred line when they prey on our children. We can not detach ourselves from this. IT IS OUR DUTY AS AFRICANS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. To show minimal concern like the present administration, who have yet to visit the families of the slain children , who have not even thought it fit to mourn nationally or publish their names, because ‘it happened in the north’ is wrong!
In Nigeria maybe we deserve what we get for our passive attitude and perverse tolerance of the intolerable but we cannot let our children be targets of greedy old men who have ‪#‎stolendreams‬ of three generations of bright African youths and can’t even educate the workforce enough to run our country ourselves!
One of these politicians recently asked us to stone them if we want change. I strongly disagree because we can not match them in violence and they will hijack our voices. They are well trained and experienced on profiting from chaos , I mean, look at Nigeria and all the billionaires around! It’s a specialty. We have to be a shinning light in these dark times for Sub Saharan Africa and be the change we want to see. We will develop when we organize, not throw stones. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FUTURE. Let’s say no to killing our children. Let’s speak in one voice. Our little brothers and sisters should not be murdered in their sleep. To be quiet is to betray who we are.
Join the ‪#‎stolendream‬ march. All states have to be involved in protecting our children and we must demand this from our governors. We shall ask’ what are u doing about it sir? We know boko haram is in the north but we are Nigerians. From south to east to north and west and our children are off limits. Use the hash tag. You are also free to do ur own write up of what u feel.

Music video for “IMF” feat M-1 from Dead Prez. Directed by Jérôme Bernard

The IMF and international policy cannot work in Africa because they do not take the common man into consideration. Now that you can only afford half the fuel you could before, where do you think the rest of the fuel will go? It’s going to the west, where the price of fuel has been skyrocketing.

A Long Way To The Beginning, due May 24 in the States and Nigeria. Out now everywhere in Europe.

Most of the military administrators who governed the states under the successive military regimes, most of whom are governors now, were under 30 years.

The brief democratic dispensation which interjected the military interregnums also saw the House of Representatives in particular populated by majority of members under 30 years as well as some senators.

Under 30s were also not in short supply with appointments, we have examples of MT Mbu who became foreign affairs minister at 23 and Pat Utomi who became a presidential adviser at 27 and so on and so forth.

NOW:

Why is it that this age bracket is today still sleeping in 3 seater chairs in their parents’
homes?

Why is it that this age bracket is today still collecting pocket money from their parents?

Why is it that this age bracket is today still writing JAMB?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still sagging their trousers?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still searching for jobs?
Why is it that this age bracket is today no longer qualified to even be leaders of youth wings of political parties?
Why is it that this age bracket is today so docile?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still incapable of feeding itself?
Why is it that this age bracket is today barred by law from even aspiring to certain political offices?
Why is it that this age bracket is today incapacitated, unwilling, unable and incapable of
asking questions?” – Sewanu Arafrika Hunkokoe

I’m writing to condemn the recent anti-gay bill signed into law by our President Jonathan Goodluck. This law – which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison for anyone in a same-sex marriage or civil union, 10 years for anyone who attends a same-sex wedding, 10 years for anyone involved with an LGBT organization, and even 10 years for anyone who shows affection for someone of the same sex – should be cast out. Since the law was passed, police across Nigeria have begun arresting and torturing dozens of our fellow citizens suspected of being gay. Don’t forget that in some of our states, if you are found guilty of being gay, you could be stoned to death.
First of all, this law was unnecessary. There is not space in the existing constitution for gay marriage. Our constitution is very definitive of marriage as a union between man and woman. I see the signing in of this law for what it was: a cheap shot by an under-achieving government to discriminate against people because they are different.
The president of Nigeria has a PhD, so he should understand better than most the implications of the law. Even if he couldn’t stop the senate from passing the bill, he had the power to delay signing it as a way of protecting the gay community. The President has had the Petroleum Industry Bill in front of him for years, and he and our senators have stalled on the bill calling for harsher punishment for corruption. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s senate has just sanctioned pedophilia in our constitution (girls that are as young as 9 years old can continue to be married in if they are “physically developed enough” according to their parents or prospective husbands) – so this the ban on homosexuality can hardly be a so-called “moral” issue. This is simply a move for cheap political points. Meanwhile, people’s lives hang in the balance.
Today I am writing this not as a fight for “gay rights”, I am fighting for all rights. People should be allowed to express themselves freely and this includes their sexuality. I believe all gay people should come out and organize openly. I expect that society should allow them live their lives as they please.

It’s not a cultural thing – it’s a sexual thing. I have even heard people say it’s Western culture imposed on us and if the West doesn’t recognize polygamy we should not accept homosexuality. This is the kind of scary ignorance that this kind of law will foster. (I can say for a fact that the constitution of Nigeria does not recognize polygamy. We have customary laws that are non-binding, but our secular courts and national constitution does not allow polygamy even though it’s “our culture.”)

I believe in education as the answer to any problem and I know this law does not educate positively. It just criminalizes and institutionalizes hate towards the gay community.

Here’s a call to action: I believe the gay community should come out! They need to put love above fear. I also believe that gay people in Africa not just Nigeria who are being targeted like this should put pressure on the West by claiming asylum in their countries. I think we are about to see a new wave of sexual refugees!